Real Madrid survived a major scare at Balaídos on Friday night, relying on a deflected 94th-minute strike from Federico Valverde to secure a vital 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo. The win, achieved while missing nine first-team players through injury and suspension, ends a damaging run of two consecutive defeats and moves Alvaro Arbeloa’s side within a single point of league leaders Barcelona.
Madrid found a way to win just as the title race seemed to be slipping away. The victory serves as a massive psychological boost ahead of their midweek Champions League showdown with Manchester City.
Madrid’s evening started brightly when Aurelien Tchouameni opened the scoring in the 11th minute. However, the lead vanished in the 25th minute following a defensive nightmare for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who allowed Williot Swedberg to dispossess him, leading to a clinical equalizer from Borja Iglesias.
For the majority of the second half, a shorthanded Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances. The match seemed destined for a draw, especially after Celta legend Iago Aspas struck the post in the 88th minute, until Valverde tried his luck from distance in the dying seconds. His shot took a heavy deflection, wrong-footing the Celta keeper and sparking wild celebrations from the visitors.
Following the final whistle, the mood in the Madrid camp was one of intense relief and pride in the club's "La Fabrica" youth products, who were drafted in to fill the gaps in the squad.
I went crazy with the goal; it hasn’t been an easy week. I congratulate the youth team players. It’s not easy to come on in a day like today and they showed character.
Thibaut Courtois
Vinicius Jr, who admitted to feeling the physical toll of a congested schedule, echoed the need for total focus as they transition from domestic duty to Europe. "We worked hard, suffered quite a bit, and were able to win to gain confidence for Wednesday. We need our best against City," the Brazilian forward noted.
The English defender faced significant scrutiny after his error gifted Celta the equalizer. While Arbeloa’s side eventually found the win, the lack of defensive cohesion caused by the nine-player absence list remains a primary concern for the coaching staff.
The victory puts immense pressure on Barcelona (64 points), who face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. Madrid (63 points) will be hoping for a slip-up from their rivals to reclaim the top spot.
Milestones:
94th Minute: The time of Valverde's winner.
1 Point: The current gap at the top of La Liga.
Wednesday: The upcoming date for the high-stakes clash against Manchester City.
Courtois has already issued a call to arms for the Madrid faithful: "The fans and we have to be at 200%."
